University of Aberdeen Blog

You know, this time last year it was hard to imagine that I would have graduated with a degree but here I am post-exams, with a respectable degree and graduated! Exams were really difficult - but I managed through them with the prospect of going to Skye with my fellow classmates for a bit of chilling-out time afterwards. Before Graduation I was extremely busy continuing my work for the University, preparing for all you new lot coming in September! But I took a week off for the Glastonbury festival which was awesome by the way! Luckily the sun shone every day and I got a suntan! It looked pretty good against my little black dress for graduation.

Graduation this year was slightly different from every previous year since it was the first time to be held in Elphinstone Hall; but for me it was special to have it there since I walked past it every day when at Uni, plus my sister got married there so it holds good memories. I graduated last Monday and twas a pretty hectic day. I had to go be girly and get my hair done, pick up my boyfriend from the train station (he came up for my Graduation bless his little heart), meal with the family, collect robes, home and dress, photos, a briefing beforehand, the actual ceremony, then more photos and finally the after-party!!! It sounds like a lot of work for one day, but it was so amazing I would totally do another degree just to graduate again! The actual ceremony was a bit nerve-wracking as I completely thought that I would do something stupid like fall over on stage or miss my turn. However, apart from being slightly confused with the Latin, fortunately none of those embarrassing things happened! A few of my former French lecturers came to see us all graduate and they looked extremely grand in their fancy robes and hats.  Afterwards they posed with us for our photos to mark the end of an era.

Both my folks came along to watch, but secretly I think they enjoyed Pimms on the lawn best out of the whole day! My Dad bought a pitcher afterwards to share, but somehow I ended up drinking most of it! I felt really posh drinking Pimms in my robes on Elphinstone lawn - like a proper intellectual!

So now that the graduation and Uni is over it’s a little sad and I’m really going to miss not going to classes and seeing my fellow comrades every day with their stories and jokes. Really make the most out of your time at Uni - it totally is the best years of your life!!!

All the best with your studies and remember that Uni is also to enjoy!

Amye xx

By golly a lot has passed and now there’s a lot of cram in here! Well, my sister’s wedding has now passed and what an awesome day it was! The weather wasn’t fantastic (the next day was gorgeous grrrr) but it didn’t really matter as that probably stopped wanderers hehe. All the men were in their kilts (except my Dad) and the ladies looked lovely. The following day there were even more parties to celebrate the newly-weds though I slightly over indulged in wedding cake (it was worth it J ) They’ve now gone and returned to Las Vegas and to show their true Scottishness have not tanned one little bit! I’m more tanned than them in just one day in Aberdeen. Believe it or not Aberdeen is the sunniest city in Scotland and that was definitely the case last weekend when temperatures ‘soared’ to 18 degrees! It was lucky the weather was so gorgeous as the Torcher Parade took place Saturday and as always, Aberdeen Uni French Society took a successful part. Back in January we decided our theme was Asterix, so on Saturday we set out making a Vikingish boat, complete with waves, swords, shields and a pyramid.  At night we all dressed-up as our characters, and I think my favourites either had to be my friend Katie who stuffed pillows down her trousers to be Obelix, or Gregor who was the dog, but dressed in a rabbit costume lol. I can’t believe that’ll be my last Torcher <sniff> Oh! By the way, Torcher Parade is a Student Charities event in where societies have a float, decorate it in a theme and then at night have a Parade to collect money for charity. Good times indeed.

Other than that it was the long awaited Language Ball a couple of weeks ago so I got to wear my pretty bridesmaid dress again yay! As one should do at a Language Ball I drank far too much wine and danced a bit too enthusiastically, but it’s going to be my last one so it was good to go down in style.  The next morning however I had to do the ‘walk of shame’ down Union Street. That’s something I do not want to repeat for a while and I may just stick to drinking tea for a while.

I have had a few disgusts at this, and no panic people, I have washed my hand since this time, but my facebook status was recently ‘Amye will never wash her hand again after having met and shaken hands with Prince Charles’ I still cannot believe I’ve met old Charlie boy-the day was almost surreal! Plus I had no idea he was coming to my work at the Town House until the very day! I got to shake his hand and then he asked me a few questions about my work as Student Ambassador and what I studied.  Just before he left he wished me luck for my exams! Not many people can say that the Prince of Wales wished them luck! Twas amazing.

On that note, I am going to back to my exam revision. I also have a costume rabbit head to return later- I’ve had a few strange looks already.

Til next time,

Amye xx

Wow! Can’t believe that’s another month gone and closer to exams eeek! Panic is beginning to slowly set-in for my final exams, but right now it’s the holidays and it’s a little hard to think about such things when surrounded by chocolate! I have to admit that I’m addicted to chocolate (as long as it’s not dark bleugh) so diets and exercise have been thrown out the window.  You may mock, but I watched HSM last night and tried to copy the dance moves. Needless to say I was somewhat unsuccessful, but hey! It was an attempt to exercise at least.

So, this month…what have I done? Perhaps not as much as last month as I’ve unbelievably busy with assessments and other such uni work. I did manage to find the time to pop down to Edinburgh for a few days to visit the city and friends.  I was really proud of myself when I found my way around the city BY MYSELF and without a map. See, university does teach you lifelong skills J  I felt sorry for the people on the bus to Edinburgh with me as my hand slightly smelt of henna- at the university a group are currently trying to raise money to help those in Gaza, so I helped my getting my hand henna-painted and eating traditional cake with honey and prunes yum yum. Whilst in Edinburgh my hand was a real conversation starter!

Other than that I’m still on the Language Ball committee so that’ll be the first week back after the holidays. To make tickets cheaper we’ve had a lot of bake sales (to cover the cost of wine!) and sold around 100 tickets which isn’t bad going at all. You never realise how much organisation is required until you’re on the committee!

On Saturday I had my big sis’s hen party which was mad! Gemma, my sister, decided on a 80s theme so we all had our leg warmers, pink shoes, crazy t-shirts and mini skirts on to comply! We started with crazy golf at the beach, then headed to a Mexican restaurant where we each got a goody bag filled with balloons, maracas and moustache lol! Gemma even got a sombrero hehe. After doing the congo around the restaurant, it was voted we go to Club Tropicana (80s nightclub) to continue the theme. Needless to say some of us are still recovering! Her wedding is Friday so at the moment we’re preparing the chocolate baskets and music. My boyfriend is even ironing his shirt for the wedding!!!

Next week I’ll be catching-up with all my uni work and friends, whilst also applying for a Masters degree-no rest for the wicked they say! Though apparently next Sunday my boyfriend is playing an ultimate Frisbee tournament so I may go and see that.

So wish us luck for the wedding and Frisbee game!

Amye xxx

I’ve realised that last time I completely forgot to properly introduce myself- was so carried away with the happiness of my dissertation being over! But here is a proper introduction- I’m Amye and I’m a fourth year student of Economics and French. I’m actually from Aberdeen too and many think I’m sad for having stayed here for University too, but I don’t think I would have been any happier if I had moved away or not. Plus, getting to go and live, work and travel in France for a year makes-up for it too J

Well, since last time I wrote so much has happened! I think there’s also been too much play going on, rather than work so this weekend I’m knuckling down with the books. Though this morning I quickly went into town to get an 80s outfit for my sister’s hen night so if you see a group of crazily-clad ladies in April in Aberdeen that would be us! I’m really excited about my sister’s wedding which was 5 weeks yesterday. Her and her fiancé decided to get married in Elphinstone Hall which is part of Aberdeen Uni campus and is stunning both outside and inside. It’s a humanist wedding which I’ve never been to before so it should be interesting. At the moment she’s trying to decide songs for the ceremony so it could be The Beatles, or perhaps the Lion King. I’m trying to convince her to make the crowd sing the Star Wars theme as she walks down the aisle, but for some reason she doesn’t like that idea LOL.

Aberdeen had it’s MA Applicant day last Tuesday night/Wednesday and I was asked to give a Student Presentation. To say I was scared about talking in front of so many people is putting it mildly! However I am told by many that it builds good skills for the future. Luckily it went quite well and I successfully managed not to shame myself in any way and who knows I may even volunteer to do another?????

One of the things I like best about the February and March transition in the change in weather (don’t worry, not going to be one of those old people who talk about weather!) But seriously, you can smell the change in seasons and you get to bring out the sandals and skirts again. Ok, so maybe that is a bit premature at the moment, but I love hot weather and am easily excited about such things like summer. It also means that campus tours are altogether a nicer walk for both me and the guests.

With that I’m going to go enjoy the rest of the sunshine and maybe attempt some more work.

Till next time

Amye xx J

The exam period is over and the ink has now dried on my dissertation, which I never thought I would be completing so soon. It is amazing to believe that this will be my last semester at Aberdeen- I think I may try to find another undergraduate degree to complete so I can have another 4 years of fun! It makes me reflect over the past five years of uni life and what I’ve done- met my best friends, did CampAmerica, went to France for a year, became President of the French Society and now Student Ambassador where I’m going to be featured in a Lonely Planet guide! Crazy, eh?

The people I’ve met through uni have without a doubt given me unforgettable moments, such as Wednesday nights at Exodus (a nightclub in Aberdeen) where we head-banged and air guitared our way through classic 80s rock or when we decided to be cultured and visit the surrounding castles like Crathes and Dunnottar. For some reason when we visited Dunnottar (which is a ruined castle on a cliff) we thought it would be more interesting to walk the side of the cliff than actually follow the footpath and had a picnic on rather windy beach! Once my dissertation was handed-in I was looking forward to having time to do girly things like shopping and drinking lots of tea, but soon got bored as there was no-one to join me in my freedom since they were still all studying hard! When term started again last week I was so relieved to have company again that I met-up with about three groups of people each day! One of those groups was the French Society and we have so much planned for the next coming month- French film night every week, Galette des Rois Night (where we eat lots of yummy French food), Senoir Honours night out, Pancake Evening and hopefully we’re going to plan a Language Ball with the Hispanic Society for March which is ace fun! I went last year and it was awesome to see the guys in their kilts as well as the ceilidlh which is always guaranteed entertainment!

This week I’m concentrating on my two new courses, Econometrics and Interwar Literature and Politics. Though they are extremely different, they are both interesting but I think I’ll need to study hard. After this I’m going to (try) and read a bit more of my course book, ‘La Conspiration’ but then again it is Friday night and who knows what is on television….Amongst hardcore studying I will once again play social butterfly and see some of my friends to catch-up on all the gossip since Christmas which I’m looking forward to, then on Friday I’ll be extremely excited as my boyfriend is taking me out for a swanky meal at my favourite restaurant, Rustico- if you like Italian food I definitely recommend this place as their food is scrumptious!

Speaking of food, I’m going to go make myself a cup of tea and biscuit for dunking to warm myself in the February snow, perhaps I may even play my recently bought Muse album and read Calvin and Hobbs. That’s what I call a plan. Until next time take care and enjoy yourselves! xx